Real world towing mileage

[MillerTime]

I've seen too many problems from all big 3, and they wernt from people draggin' them. I believe what we use them for is concidered severe duty, and many are pushing their limits as it is.
These vehicles are highly tuned factory, with very minute tolerances allowed to run at optimal conditions- I've seen and experianced even something as little as a AFE intake causing a lot of problems. After much trouble shooting and testing- returned to stock and nary a problem for 2 years.

But ignorance is bliss- till there's a problem.

[Cajun Po-Boy]

Originally Posted by MillerTime

I've seen too many problems from all big 3, and they wernt from people draggin' them. I believe what we use them for is concidered severe duty, and many are pushing their limits as it is.
These vehicles are highly tuned factory, with very minute tolerances allowed to run at optimal conditions- I've seen and experianced even something as little as a AFE intake causing a lot of problems. After much trouble shooting and testing- returned to stock and nary a problem for 2 years.

But ignorance is bliss- till there's a problem.

Good info from someone in the inside...Thanks!

[TURBS]

200000 miles on my 6.0 when I traded it and not one drivetrain issue.
I bought it brand new and changed the oil when the gm "change" oil light came on and change tranny fluid once a year after 100000 miles.

List of components while I owned it.
Rear wheel seal
Front rotors
One front wheel bearing
Front pads
Knock sensors
Plugs
Tires

Used no oil between oil changes.

Turbs

[TTNewbees]

Originally Posted by MillerTime

I think the "broke in " mileage difference is more wishfulness than reality. I have had several new trucks and there was little to no difference from day one till 50k four years later.
-some people trying to sell 180,000+ mile trucks will tell you they are "just getting broke in" of course this is bs.

Ps. Mileage differences you are seeing between people on here maybe beacause if 2wd or 4wd

Possibly since mine is 4wd. I would like to say I may have gotten 7-9 in my Yukon, so I ain't complaining just stating that I "wish" I was getting better compared to others towing heavier 5er's. Theory (which is not always correct) would think that the 5er would be taller thus more air resistance resulting in lower mpg.

[MillerTime]

Just to clarify I was refering to diesels.
-I don't think you could hurt a gas engine like you can a diesel from the tuning and little addons (which percentage wise for gas are rather low on performance), usually gas engines require more "work" to get bigger performance gains. Ie. turbo/supercharger, cams, pistons, injectors, intake manifolds and such.

[Oaklevel]

You answered your own question. If you are pulling a heavier trailer the Diesel may be the better way to go......lighter trailer gas is fine but personal preference is more of it.....
Diesel trucks Oil changes cost more but you don't have to do it as often, fuel filters should be changed more often & are usually higher...... I'm not sure about the poster saving they added fuel additives to every tank... I'm not sure why I have owned 3 diesel trucks & rarely use fuel additives. (I can understand if they live in a colder climate). But if something major goes wrong the deisel is much more costly.
Yes fuel cost is more but again the diesel gets better economy......no cut & dry answer just each situation is different.

[asquared]

Originally Posted by Oaklevel

You answered your own question. If you are pulling a heavier trailer the Diesel may be the better way to go......lighter trailer gas is fine but personal preference is more of it.....
Diesel trucks Oil changes cost more but you don't have to do it as often, fuel filters should be changed more often & are usually higher...... I'm not sure about the poster saving they added fuel additives to every tank... I'm not sure why I have owned 3 diesel trucks & rarely use fuel additives. (I can understand if they live in a colder climate). But if something major goes wrong the deisel is much more costly.
Yes fuel cost is more but again the diesel gets better economy......no cut & dry answer just each situation is different.

Ford has been known to weasel out of some warranty claims if owners haven't been running Cetane booster fuel supplements w/ every tank of fuel. This has mostly been true on the 6.7 engines but I'm not chancing it while in still running some warranty.

[mike06081969]

Reading through some of the posts here reminds me of the old saying that the two things a man will lie about are the size of the fish and his gas mileage, lol. My 08 F-250 6.4 diesel gets 16.5 unloaded and 9.5 pulling my 40 foot Blue Ridge. Not what I had hoped for with a diesel, but I guess it could be worse.

[jevanb]

Originally Posted by Ragin Cajun

-larger down pipe & intercooler pipes
-egr delete
-efi program tuning for onboard ecm
-cold air intake kit
-straight pipe exhaust
-new, larger exhaust from turbo to outlet
-water meth injection system

To name a few

PS-this don't work for gassers!

all of these work because I have them all even a airdog lift pump, transgo shift kit, better tq converter, gauges, syn fluids. looking at the water meth kit but my temps are so low towing I have no need, but the best MPG gains are 245 tires and aired to max pressure and no lift

[Cajun Po-Boy]

Nice...jevanb!

[dwaynerz]

Diesel trucks Oil changes cost more but you don't have to do it as often

i change mine every 4000 miles, and a fuel filter twice a year. right before winter or shortly after, and then again in the late spring/early summer. i consider it cheap insurance, and with my reciepts, chevrolet will have a hard time turning me down for warrenty work. no chips/mods or power adders ever as the truck is exspensive enough already. the "mod money" goes into my old car.

[Jhawkfan44]

So if I get 8-10 mpg pulling across western Kansas I should probably be content with that? I usually run 50-65 depending on incline.

[TTNewbees]

Originally Posted by Jhawkfan44

So if I get 8-10 mpg pulling across western Kansas I should probably be content with that? I usually run 50-65 depending on incline.

Think you are doing great my recollection of Kansas is flat. But as I found out on my Yukon 6.2l, 50mph is way different than 65.

[debarymjm]

I pull a 2013 Columbus 295RL with a FORD F-250 long bed with a 6.2 gas. It pulls great and the mileage is acceptable. I only have 1400 miles on the truck but I am getting 9.7-10 pulling the trailer and around12.5 around town. Compared to the Class A I just traded, that's not too bad.

Good for you for not getting the F-150 Eco-Boost. I bought that truck first and had to trade it within a week to get the F-250. Although the specs said the truck was capable of the load, in reality it was just too dangerous. Once again, DON'T BELIEVE THE DEALER when it comes to specs on vehicles. I lost a lot of money but learned a good lesson. I love the new setup. debarymj

[SYE]

I get about 8-9 mpg when towing. I have a 4:10 rear end.

[SYE]

6.0L Gas engine

[WEMig]

Originally Posted by debarymjm

I pull a 2013 Columbus 295RL with a FORD F-250 long bed with a 6.2 gas. It pulls great and the mileage is acceptable. I only have 1400 miles on the truck but I am getting 9.7-10 pulling the trailer and around12.5 around town. Compared to the Class A I just traded, that's not too bad.

Good for you for not getting the F-150 Eco-Boost. I bought that truck first and had to trade it within a week to get the F-250. Although the specs said the truck was capable of the load, in reality it was just too dangerous. Once again, DON'T BELIEVE THE DEALER when it comes to specs on vehicles. I lost a lot of money but learned a good lesson. I love the new setup. debarymj

Debarymjm, I have the F250 with the 6.2L gas and a similar weight camper. I'm getting pretty close to the same fuel mileage as you.

[Superdutykid]

I have a 08 F-450, 6 speed manual with 4.88 gears, pulling a 2011 355QBQ Sandpiper, empty weight on camper is 12,293 lbs, plus all the stuff that's loaded in it, just a guess is 13,800. With 4 adults in the truck get 11.0-11.5 running @ 70 mph. I have opened up the exhaust on my truck and run the SCT programmer on tow mode all of the time. Truck gets @ 16 not towing. It a BEAST for towing, don't ever know the difference between uphill of flat ground due to the gearing.

[Jhawkfan44]

Wow Superduty! That is impressive, do you have any idea what your mileage is at say 60 or 65? Is it enough better to matter?

[Gizmo0706]

Just thinking out loud here but how much, if any, does running a diesel with a programmer shorten the life of the drivetrain. My logic would tell me that the manufacturers have given these trucks a tune that is the best compromise of power, fuel economy, and longevity. So if you change the tune with a bias towards power and fuel economy then are you giving up longevity? I must be getting older as the "more power" voice isn't as loud as it used to be